| Everton ready for vital tie with Hungaria • Everton aim to reach at least the last 16 for the first time• Second leg at Widnes on Thursday after goalless first legEverton will be better prepared for the second leg of their Champions League tie against MTK Hungaria, according to the manager, Mo Marley, than was the case for the first leg that ended goalless in Budapest."We've at least seen our opponents in action now," said Marley, whose team entertain the Hungarian champions at the Stobart Stadium in Widnes on Thursday, aiming to reach the last 16 of the competition for the first time.Marley reckons that the comparatively high profile of women's football in England worked against Everton in the first leg. "The Hungarians were able to obtain lots of TV footage from games of ours, plus England matches where a good number of our players were involved, whereas there was nothing available to us because club matches over there aren't televised and internationals are rarely covered by the media.''We did what research we could on them but it was very difficult to prepare for the game. Even so we should have won. They were a decent side, well organised and difficult to break down, but we lacked composure and, although we created chances, we didn't have our usual quality in the final third."We know the approach we have to take in the home leg, though, and I'm confident we'll be better. The aim going into the competition was to progress to at least the round of 16 and, if we do that, it will mean good progress for the club."While Everton head into their second leg all square, Arsenal will take a 3-1 lead into the home leg of their tie against the Serbian champions, ZFK Masinac. An aggregate victory will not be a formality, however, warned the winger Rachel Yankey. "We needed two late goals to win over there," said the England international, "and, although we can make excuses – like the dreadful pitch - the truth is we weren't at our best and we'll have to be better on Thursday."In the Premier League's only two games today the leaders Blackburn beat Barnet 2-1 and Sunderland moved up to second place with a 1-1 draw at Reading.Women's footballTony Leightonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool takeover: NESV threaten to walk away from purchase if club are docked points New England Sports Ventures is threatening to walk away from £300m club purchase if the club go into administration. telegraph.co.uk |
Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy faces up to 10 weeks out injured • Wigan midfielder injured in challenge by Bolton's Muamba• Scan today will confirm extent of ligament damageThe Wigan midfielder, James McCarthy, could be out of action for up to 10 weeks with an ankle injury, the manager, Roberto MartÃnez, has said.McCarthy was carried off on a stretcher after a heavy tackle from Bolton's Fabrice Muamba in Saturday's Premier League match at the DW Stadium.The injury is not as bad as the club initially feared but McCarthy still faces a lengthy lay-off. "It is a little bit better than we thought at first but it is obviously ligament damage in the right ankle," MartÃnez said."When it is swollen it is sometimes difficult to assess but there is no fracture, we hope. We expect to get the results of the scan today and then hopefully it will be eight to 10 weeks."Wigan Athleticguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Ivanschitz goal lifts Mainz to Bundesliga lead Substitute Andreas Ivanschitz scored two minutes after coming off the bench to give Mainz a 1-0 victory at Bayer Leverkusen and return his team ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Inter Chief Stunned By Milito's Ballon d'Or Omission MILAN (Reuters) - Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is stunned that striker Diego Milito was not included in the 23-man shortlist for the new FIFA Ballon d'Or. feeds.nytimes.com |